‘I haven’t seen him, Rosie. I had dinner in the nursery with the two young scamps because I didn’t fancy eating alone, and then I came down here. I haven’t seen anyone all evening.’

‘I can’t find him anywhere.’

‘Maybe he passed you on the road. You’re home early.’ Walter eyed her curiously. ‘Why was it a terrible evening?’

‘Sir Michael announced Christina’s engagement to Oscar, and then he told everyone that he was going to marry Patsy.’

Walter stared at her open-mouthed. ‘No! Surely he was jesting?’

‘Oh, no, he wasn’t, Walter. He was deadly serious. Then Christina flew at Patsy and there was a dreadful row.’

Walter ran his hand through his already tousled hair. ‘But surely Mama won’t allow that to happen? Patsy hasn’t reached her majority.’

‘Mama and Claude are leaving tomorrow, in case you’ve forgotten. Sir Michael warned Mama that to oppose the match in any way might reflect badly on her career. That man is very clever.’

‘So where is Patsy now?’

‘She insisted on remaining at Greystone Park. There was nothing we could do, apart from kidnapping her.’

‘I’m beginning to wish that I’d come with you.’

‘Louise was there with her parents. She looked lonely, Walter.’

‘I’m going to miss her when I return to university. It’s my last year.’

Rosalind walked to the window and peered out into the bleak night. The moon was hidden beneath a mass of clouds and nothing but darkness met her anxious gaze. ‘I wish I knew where Piers has gone. Why hasn’t he left me a note?’

‘Are you sure about that?’ Walter rose from his seat and stretched. ‘I’ll help you look.’

‘No, it’s all right, Walter. I’m probably worrying about nothing. Piers might have gone out for a walk to clear his head, or something of the sort. I’ll wait up for him, but you can’t do anything so get back to your book.’

‘If you’re sure.’ Walter sat down again and opened the book in front of him. ‘But let me know if I can be of help.’

Rosalind left him in the library. She knew that she ought to go straight to bed after such a traumatic evening but she went to the kitchen instead, where she found Hester and Alexander drinking tea. They both leaped to their feet when she walked into the otherwise empty room.

‘Have you found a note?’ Alexander gave her a searching look. ‘I can tell by your face that you haven’t. I wasn’t going to tell you until you’ve had some rest, but Gurney told me that Piers had his horse saddled up and he went out soon after we left for Greystone Park.’

‘Did he tell Gurney where he was going?’

‘No, he just said he wanted to go for a ride.’